Taken by Neil English

With the SA208 Binocular

Physical Characteristics (Identification)

• The "Starry" Plumage: Their most famous feature is the dense covering of white or cream-colored spots across their entire body, resembling a starry night sky.

• Iridescent Sheen: While they look black from a distance, up close and in the right light (as seen in your photo), their feathers shimmer with metallic purple, green, and blue highlights.

• Beak & Tail: They have a relatively short, squared-off tail and a long, sharp beak. In the spring (breeding season), their beaks turn a bright lemon-yellow.